For the Living of These Days—A Word from Kathy Collier

So, in the end, we all leave something that marks us deeply so that we can become both more of it—and less of it at the same time.We find the ground we grew in. We feel again that first sense of certainty that, however difficult it might be, we could take the next step in life alone.An individual is what we are. Community is what we need and want and cannot live well without. ~ Joan Chittister’s October Monastic Way

One of Highland’s deacons, Lewis Miller, recently shared this beautiful quote and it resonated with Highland’s ministerial staff as we live into our theme of courage and specifically, taking root, in this interim season. Wednesday nights on Highland’s second floor may not seem like acts of courage compared to all that is going on in the world around us. However, seeds are scattered, roots are deepened, and community is strengthened as our children attend our graded choir program offered for ages three through fifth grade.

On a recent Wednesday night, Highland’s children’s choir teachers witnessed community in the simple act of one child reaching for a friend’s hand to hold. Our goal that evening was to provide the space for our young musicians to discover how to project their singing voices in our beautiful stone-walled sanctuary and prepare to sing in worship very early in our choir year. I’m smiling as I write because I wish all we had to teach them was how to sing together! Our teachers give each child the tools to help them stand for a long period of time, share space with other children, point their toes toward the director so our voices can blend together, maintain a singing posture, and sing together at the same time. Chorister Choir is for children in kindergarten through fifth grade. This year, we welcomed ten kindergarteners and nine of them are boys! The simple act of reaching for a hand gave two young kindergartners the courage to learn new skills and do hard things together… and one teacher took their picture.

In the midst of living in this interim, I encourage you to find a hand to hold… maybe not literally, but come to worship and in that hour find the courage

to greet more people during the Exchange of Peace.

look others in the eye and welcome them with a hand shake or hug.

sign the register and view the names of those who sit with you.

take the bulletin home to repeat the prayers, read the scriptures, and sing the hymns.

I delight in seeing each of you in worship on Sundays from the best seat in Highland’s sanctuary. Come to worship and root yourself in this faith community on the corner of Grinstead and Cherokee. Take root with us as we do the work of God’s love in the world.